h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Whoops - pressed the wrong button. Well, I've only been around H2G2 for 2 1/2 years - I'll soon learn!

So you mention two places in Peru as the nicest places in the world. My son is hoping to go to Peru to do voluntary service next year. What were you doing there and how long did you stay?

Yes, wandering around, 1 month. That answers your questions.

I went to Peru in the Summer of 1999 with a company called World Challenge, accompanied by 11 schoolmates, one adult who was just in the process of leaving the school and so was not _technically_ a teacher, and one 'leader' supplied by the company. The leader later turned out to be an idiot, and we _really_ did not part on good terms with him, but the trip was once-in-a-lifetime. We went from Lima down to Arequipa, then made an abortive trip to Colca Canyon from there. For reasons which are disputed, but center around the food we packed (or, rather, _someone_ failed to pack) for the trek down the Canyon. One person came out of that with heatstroke.
Reaching Arequipa at 5 am, we found a hotel and crashed (in the colloquial sense). We then moved on by coach to Puno (Puuunooo *calming coo*) on the shores of Lake Titicaca, and spent a few days there, including a two-day journey to Taquile Island, which I highly recommend.
We went from Puno to Cuzco (or Cusco, or Quzqo, or Kuzquo...) and did a community project there (painting a basketball court eventually). We took the trip out from Cuzco to attempt the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu or die trying, and achieve something somewhere between the two. We reach Machu Picchu within the requisite number of days, witness the dawn from the top of the highest temple (yeah!), wander around again for several hours and return to Cuzco.
I'm sure this didn't start in the present tense. *shrug*. We got the flight out of Cuzco to Puerto Maldonado in the heart of the Peruvian jungle for the most enjoyable leg of the expedition. Highlights of this included seeing giant river otters (highly endangered), eating at a place which offered massive servings at little more than £1 (5 nuevo soles) a meal, and wandering around town at 10.30 in the morning in nothing but a fleece, boxer's shorts and shoes, but no socks, searching for rum and orange juice.
While I am at it, I ought to recommend our guide Willy Wither, reachable under that name at hotmail or William Wither at yahoo. I am trying to avoid web addresses that might get broken and removed.
I have no end of stories about Peru, and it gave me a thirst for world travel. I am currently planning a similar trip to Madagascar under my own steam, if only I could find someone to go with me!

By the way, speak to Vegantoo. I don't _think_ he has set off on his expedition to Peru yet, but it is well within a month from now. He also has a thread in my Space.